Electrical-switch-controlling apparatus



ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2' 4 i 1 I l I 63 3117,77, 9 7 4 5 INVENTOR.

BY I

ATTORNEY.

March 24. 1925. 1,531,175

H. c. CARMICHAEL ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1y .4. w v 30 Y 46 O IN VEN TOR:

A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 24, 1925. Y

UNITED. STATES nowenn o. GARMICHAEL', or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ninornroAn-swrrcn-conrnoLLrNG APPARATUS.

Application filed. September 22, 1922. Serial No. 589,810.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Howani) C. CAR- MICHAEL, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates. Iresiding at Indianapolis, in the county of Ma rion and State of Indiana, have invented .a new and useful Electrical-SwitchControlling Apparatus, ofwhich the following-is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon. This invention relates to apparatus for controlling electrical switches by means of railway car wheels,-especially switches for making or breaking electrical circuits of signals or other devices, the invention having reference more particularly to an electrical-switch controlling apparatus that is adapted to be used in connection with a railway crossing gate and signal, such as that disclosed in my application for Letters Patent filed September 10, 1921, Serial N 0. 499,793, which has matured into Patent No. 1.475.682, Nov. 27 1923, in which patent the principal features of the'present invention are described. l An object of the invention is to provide an electrical-switch controlling apparatus of the above-mentioned character which shall be so constructed as to be practical and physically able to perform the function required of it, and under the severe conditions which must be imposed upon such apparatus when associated with the operation of railway trains.

' Another object is to provide improvedap paratus of the above-mentioned character parts as hereinafter particularly described which shall be composed of simpleelements and not liable to become deranged or damaged in usual operations, which shall not be costly to manufacture or expensivetomaintain, and which shallbe durable and economical in'use. Y

With theabove mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe novel arrangement of an electrical-switch, and an improved apparatus for operation andcontrol thereof by means of car wheels moving on a railway track; and, the invention' consists' also further in the novel parts and in the combination and arrangement of and further setforth in'the claims appended hereto. a

Referring tothe drawings,-Figure 1 is z a fragmentary longitudinal section showing a portion of a railway trackwith which the invention is associated, taken as on the line II on Fig. 2: Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan of a portion of the railway track and invention associated therewith, a portion of the cover of the apparatus housing being broken away; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line IIIIII on Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a horizontal central sectional view of an electrical-switch suitable for operation and control by the improved controlling apparatus, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary section approximately on the line VV in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line VI VT in Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII-VII in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a horizontal detail section on the line VIIIVHI in Fig. 9: Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on the line IX-IX on 2 on an enlarged scale; and, Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line XX in Fig. 1.

In the various figures of the drawing-Is similar reference characters indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to in detail.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates cross-ties of a railway track comprising rails 2, 3 indicating a flanged car. wheel in its usual relation to a rail of the track.

The invention comprises a housing which has a bottom base plate 1 which in proper position is secured upon a number of the cross-ties withone edge thereof adjacent to the rail. The housing has a pit comprising a side wall 5 and a bottom 6, the wall being fixed to the base plate in which is a suitable opening permitting access to the pit. The housing hasalso another pit comprising a Wall 7 and a bottom 8, the wall being fixed to the base plate 4:. at a suitable opening therein permitting access to the pit. The pits are arranged between crossties and adjacent to the rail 2. The base plate 4 has a wall 9 on its top upon which a cover 10 is suitably secured.

A pivot block 111s arranged on the inner side of the web of the rail 2 and has ears 12 and 13 thereon which are secured bv means of bolts l l and 14 to the web. A rocker or pivot head 15 is connected by means of a horizontal pivot 16 to the block 11, and the rocker head has a vertical pivot 17 provided with a nut 18. An improved operating bar is provided which has a base portion 19 that is connected to the pivot 17 and refit) 'tained by thenut 18, an inclinedportion extending from the base portion upwardly to the inner side of the ball of the rail 2, a horizontal portion 21 extending from the inclined portion along the rail, and a re atively obtuse angle portion 22 that extends from the horizontal portions and gradual y away from the ball of the rail. The op erating bar extends above the two pits and may be moved pivotally away from the rail and also downward. the housing being suitably recessed or set sufficiently low to permit such movements. The operating bar is yieldingly held against the ball of the rail, preferably by means of a curved lever arm 23 having a base portion 2-1: that is connected by means of a pivot 25 to the base plate 4, the arm having a contact end portion 26 that bears against a lug-bar 27 fixed to the angle portion 22 of the operz-iting bar, so that while the lever arm swings slightly horizontally after the operating bar is moved away from the rail, the lug-bar slides against the contact portion 26 when the operating bar moves downward. The lever arm preferably is stopped against a block 28 fixed to the base plate 4 to permit ready remoyal of the operating bar when making repairs.

An electrical-switch or circuit connector and a dash-pot are structurally combined and comprises a cylinder 29 which is secured upon the bottom 8 of the larger pit, the cylinder having suitable heads 80 and 31. A pair of laterally elastic contact lingers S2 and 83 are supported by an insulating ring 2% secured into the cylinder and have connection with circuit wires and 36 which may be connected with any desired electrical apparatus requiring electrical current. A piston rod 37 is slidingly arranged in the head 30 and has a piston 38 secured thereto which is titted in the cylinder 29. A contact device 39 is secured to the piston rod and insulated therefrom, and so designed and arrangedas to permit it to be moved sliding between the contact fingers S2 and 33 whereby to form an electrical circuit. The piston rod has an upward extending arm d0 that extends through a yoke 41 which is secured to the operating bar, the bar being permitted to freely descend relatively to the arm. The piston has an aperture 42 therein that is provided with a suitable valve which may be designed to permit slight leakage through the aperture. The head 30 preferably is provided with an aperture 44 provided with a valve to on its inner side, the valve preferably being designed to permit slight leakage through the aperture. so that air in the cylinder between the head 30 and the piston 38 may slowly leak from the cylinder. The space in the cylinder beyond the piston has connection with the atmosphere, being preferably through an aperture 46 in the wall'of the cylinder. The arrangement is such that the electrical circuit is closed when the operating bar is moved away from the rail 2, but this is not arbitrary, since the arrangement of contacts may be such as to cause the cirwit to be broken or disconnected with a like movement of the operating bar.

The lever arm 23 is yieldably forced toward the rail 2 by means of a. coil spring 47 connected to the arm and also to an anchor 4-8 secured to the housing, the spring being strained under suitable tension and of such length as to not be liable to become broken.

In the other pit a cylinder l9 is secured upon the bottom 6 and has a bottomhcad 50 and a top head 51. A piston 52 is ar ranged in the cylinder and has a piston rod 53 connected thereto that extends through the top head and has a cross-bar 54 fixed to its top, a bearing plate 55 being beneath the cross-bar and seated upon a coil spring 56 that is seated upon the top head 51. The cross-bar 54 extends through a yoke 57 that is fixed to the angle portion 22 of the operating bar adjacent to the end thereof the yoke having a horizontal s ot- 58 through which the cross-bar extends and permitting the lateral movement of the operating bar, the cross-bar being vertically guided between two guide bars 59 and 60 on the side wall of the pit. The piston has an aperture 61 therein provided with a valve 62, and preferably the lower portion of the cylinder wall has a vent aperture (53 therein, the arrangement permitting the piston to be quickly forced downward and insuring slow upward movement of the piston. The operating bar is stopped in its upward movement, being forced up by the spring 56, with the top of the bar on a level with the top of the rail 2, by means of a guide 6% fixed to the operating bar and extending downward adjacent to the inner side of the rail and having a stop finger 65 thereon that extends under and in contact with the rail. i i

In practical use a wheel on the rail 2 when moving, as from the left hand side toward the right hand side on the drawings, brings the flange of the wheel into contact with the angled portion 22 of the operating bar and forces the bar away from the rail,'the bar causing movement of the piston rod 37 which carries the connector device 39 into Contact with the switch fingers 32 and the electrical circuit being complete whether the contact device 39 is moved more or less by the operating bar which may be moved moreor less by different wheels. After the wheel passes beyond the horizontal portion 21 the spring 4:7 retracts the operating bar by means of the lever arm 23, the air trapped between the head 30 and the piston 38 causing S10 7 return move:

llfi

other wheels have passed, in order to avoid wear and tear of the apparatus. It will be understood, however, that adjustments may be made to permit rapid leakage of air and quick return of the piston 38 in vase it is desired to quickly return the operating bar to the rail to breal-Lthe electrical circuit. Horizontal movement of the operat ing bar on itspivot carries theyolre 57 idly across the cross-bar 5st. hen the wheel on the track rail moves in the opposite direction, from right to left, the flange of the wheel comes into contact with the top of the inclined portion 20 and forces the operjacent to and engaging the operating bar,

and a spring engaging thelever arm and supported to yie'ldingly force the operating bar in the direction away from the pivotal support of the lever arm.

2. Electrical-switchcontrolling apparatus including apivot block having a horizontal pivot thereon, a pivot head connected to the pivot and having a vertical pivot thereon, an operating bar having an inclined port1on connected adjacent to the lower end thereof to the vertical. pivot, the barcomprising a relatively angular portion having a yoke fixed thereto, and means co-operating with the yoke to pivotall'y move the operating bar.

3. Electricalswitch controlling apparatus including a pivot block having ahorizontal pivot thereon, a pivothead connected to the pivot and having a vertical pivot thereon, anoperating har having a relatively angular portion connected adjacent to the lower end thereof to the vertical pivot, the bar comprising a relatively angular portion having a yoke fixed thereto, and means co-operating with the yoke to yieldingly restrain pivotal movement of the operating bar.

4. Electrical-switch controlling apparatus including an operating har comprising a base portion, a normally inclined portion extending from the base portion, a normally horizontal portion extending from the inclined portion, and a relatively obtuse angle portion extending from the horizontal portion; a pivot head arranged upon thetop of the base portion of the bar and pivotally connected; thereto, apivot hloclr arranged on the rear side of the pivot head and having pivotal connection therewith, and a plurality of bolts connected with the pivot block to secure it in place.

Electrical-switch controllin apparatus including an operating bar comprising a base portion, a normally inclined portion extending from the base portion, a normally horizontal portion extending from the illclined portion, and a relatively obtuse angle portion exte1i li11gfro1n the horizontal por tion; a pivot head to which the base portion is pivotally connected for horizontal movement, a pivot block to which the pivot head is pivotally connected for rotary movement with a horizontal axis of rotation, a plurality of bolts connected to the pivot block to secure it to a vertical support, a curved lever arm having at one end a pivot for support, the opposite end of the arm being arranged against the angle portion of the operating bar adjacent to the end thereof, and a coil spring connected. to the middle portion of the lever arm.

i 6. In electrical-switch controlling apparatus, the combination of a hollow cylinder,

two elastic contact fingers supported in the cylinder insulated therefrom, two circuit. wires connected with the fingers respcctivelv and extending out through the cylinder al sulated therefrom, a piston movable in the cylinder, a piston rod. extending through the piston and secured thereto, the rod extending out through the cylinder tobe operated and controlled, at contact device. secured to the piston rod and movable between and from the contact fingers, the device being lnsulated from the piston rod, and an operaticpg bar having connection with the piston ro 7 In electrical-switch controlling apparatus,the combination with a railway track red, of a pivot block fixedly secured directly to the rail, a pivot head pivoted to the pivcit block, and an operating bar pivoted to the pivot head and extending gradually upwardly therefrom to the adjacent side of the upper portion of the rail and thence gradually away from the rail. 7

8. In electrical-switch controlling apparatus, the combination with a railway track rail, of an operating har including an inclined portion having pivotal connection at its lower end with the rail permitting downward and lateral movements of the bar, the bar having a horizontal portion extending against the upper portion of the rail and also a relatively obtuse angled portion extending away from the rail, a guide bar fixed to the said horizontal portion and extending downward at the adjacent side of the lower portion of the rail and having a stop arm thereon extending slidingly against the under side of the rail, a spring arranged to operate on said horizontal portion to yieldingly hold the operating bar to the rail, and a spring arranged under said angled portion to yieldingly support the operating bar with the stop arm against the rail.

9. In electrical-switchcontrolling apparatus, the combination with a railway track rail, of a covered housing arranged adjacent to the rail and having two pits, a curved lever arm pivoted in the housing, a spring connected to the housing and to said arm to draw the arm towards the rail, an operating bar having pivotal connection directly with the rail permitting downward and lateral movements of the bar, the bar extending between the rail and the lever arm in engagement with the arm, means in one of said pits connected with the operating bar to retard movement of the bar towards the rail, and means in the remaining one of said pits connected with the operating bar to retard upward movement of the bar.

10. In electrical-switch controlling apparatus, the combination with a. railway track rail, of an operating bar including an inclined portion having pivotal connection at its lower end directly with the rail permitting downward and lateral movements of the bar, the bar having a horizontal portion extending against the upper portion of the rail and also a relatively obtuse angled portion extending away from the rail, said angled portion of the operating bar being provided on its under side with a yoke hav ing a horizontal slot, a cylinder vertically supported below said yoke and having a head on its top, a piston in the cylinder and having a valve to permit passage of air upward through the piston, a rod secured to the piston and having a cross-bar thereon extending through said slot, a coil spring under compression between said head and said cross-bar, and a spring arranged to yieldingly hold the operating bar to the rail.

11. In electrical-switch controlling apparatus, the combination with a railway track rail, of an operating bar including an inclined portion having pivotal connection at its lower end directly with the rail permitting downward and lateral movements of the bar, the bar having ahorizontal portion extending against the upper portion of the rail and also a relatively obtuse angled portion extending away from the rail, the operating bar being provided with a yoke, a cylinder horizontally supported and having a head on one end thereof, a piston movable in the cylinder and provided with a valve to permit flow of air through the piston towards said head, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending through said head and having a lug thereon connected with said yoke, a spring and connections cooperating with said horizontal portion to yieldingly hold the operating bar laterally to the rail, a spring and connection toyieldingly support said angled portion of the operating bar and oppose downward movement thereof, and an electrical-switch to close a circuit arranged in the cylinder and controlled by the piston rod.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature on the13th day of September, 1922.

HOWVARD C. GARMICHLAE-L. 

